AUTHORIZER SERVICES
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Authorizer Services that Strengthen Oversight, Drive Accountability and Advance Student Success
Students and families are depending on you, and we’re here to help. Behind every great charter school is a strong authorizer dedicated to delivering results. At the Institute, we understand that authorizing is both an art and a science—requiring a balance of judgment, oversight responsibilities, community needs, and educational outcomes. Whether you're a new or veteran authorizer, our team brings deep expertise and proven tools to help you build capacity, streamline oversight, and lead with purpose.
Let’s partner to elevate your impact and ensure every school in your portfolio delivers on its promise to students.
Your Leadership.
Your Compass.
Our Support.
Authorizers are more than gatekeepers—they lead and model the way. They are active stewards of freedom, innovation, and quality. At the Institute, we help authorizers uphold high standards and expand opportunity—when authorizers thrive, students succeed.
We know the success of a charter school often hinges on the clarity, capacity, and consistency of its authorizer. That’s why we champion authorizers committed to student-centered oversight and continuous improvement. With the right tools and coaching, authorizers don’t just monitor performance—they drive it. They build confidence and earn trust. Their values are their compass.
We understand the challenges you face—being under-resourced, under-appreciated, and managing high-stakes work. But we also know that without dedicated authorizers, the 3.7 million students in over 8,000 charter schools wouldn't have the educational opportunities they deserve. Your work matters, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
What We Do
We partner with authorizing agencies—including universities, state departments, school districts, community colleges, and commissions—to build systems and tools that support excellence in performance and oversight. From designing foundational policies to implementing cutting-edge technologies, we help authorizers at every stage of their journey. We support authorizers as they navigate the charter lifecycle with their schools.
We share your commitment to making public education work better for our kids and our communities. We understand authorizers do their best work when they remain focused on students and families. That’s why our services are grounded in best practices, tailored to your context, and focused on helping you act with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
Services Built by Authorizers for Authorizers
Our consulting and coaching services are tailored to your specific needs, no matter your size or experience level. We'll help you develop the policies and practices necessary to authorize, oversee, support, and hold accountable a portfolio of high-quality schools. With our proven strategies, we'll help you work smarter, manage more effectively, and strengthen your impact.
We’re here to help you lead with clarity, act with courage, and stay grounded in your mission. If you're ready to elevate your authorizing practices, let’s start a conversation. We’re here to help you make informed decisions with confidence and navigate tough decisions with integrity.
WEB-BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Epicenter: Performance & Operations Platform
From processing charter applications and managing compliance to automating workflow and evaluating performance, Epicenter has everything you need to get results.
COACHING
Authorizer Coaching, Consulting and Capacity Building
Whether you’re looking for assistance with strategy, an external review of your policies and practices, or hands-on support with applications, renewals, interventions, or closures, our team is ready to help get the work done.
COACHING | DEVELOPMENT | COMMUNITY
A-GAME: Academic Oversight
Create unique performance goals for your school or portfolio of schools. A-GAME works with schools, boards, and authorizers to create valid and reliable goals that measure each school’s unique program. Authorizers can also join the A-GAME Community to network, share experiences, seek advice, and learn.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Charter Schools Program Grant Support
Whether you’re looking for assistance with strategy, an external review of your policies and practices, or hands-on support with applications, renewals, interventions, or closures, our team is ready to help get the work done.
COACHING
|TRAINING
Authorizer Board Development
Great authorizers are difference makers for kids and communities. Making high-stakes decisions requires thoughtful deliberation and care. Our experts are here to support you! Leverage our deep expertise and national experience working with authorizers of all types and sizes.
TRAINING | COMMUNITY
Board Network: Board Training & Community
Whether you’re a board member or someone who works with a board, this national community is for you. By joining, you’ll have access to specialized tools, resources and trainings, along with opportunities to engage and exchange ideas with experts and peers from around the country.
COACHING
Board and Authorizer Relations
The charter contract is an agreement between the authorizer and a board. When the relationship between the two parties is optimized, kids win. Whether the relationship has not yet been built, or requires improvement, the experienced team at the Institute can help.
WEB-BASED PLATFORM
|RESOURCES
|COMMUNITY
Charter Network Platform
The Charter Network is a professional community for charter school authorizers, boards, schools, and support organizations. Engage with experts, network with peers, access specialized trainings, tools, resources and more.
COACHING
|DEVELOPMENT
Financial Oversight
A school’s single largest asset is the facility itself and its sole purpose is serving students programmatically and operationally with fiscal stewardship for the future. Too often Academies are not realizing the incredible opportunities available to maximize their facility and create lasting positive academic and financial change.
MICHIGAN ONLY | TRAINING | CERTIFICATION
#LEAD: Charter School Leaders Program
This training and certification program provides a broad overview of the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead a charter school in Michigan, as well as on-going certification.
INFORMATION RESOURCE
National Charter Schools Founders Library
The Founders Library’s mission is to capture the history of the charter schools movement for future generations to enjoy and learn from. From the original founders to the present day leaders, history matters!
COACHING
|DEVELOPMENT
Operational Oversight
Make sure due diligence takes place before key decisions are made. Policies and strategies are being implemented as intended. Key risks are identified, monitored, and mitigated. Business processes and systems are working well.
CONSULTING
Authorizer Policies, Practices & Systems
Whether you’re looking for an external evaluation of your current practices or are new to authorizing and are looking to set up the best systems for your, our team of experienced experts are ready to help. Receive honest, professional, and insightful guidance and resources from experienced authorizers.
COACHING
School and Authorizer Relations
Great authorizers and schools ensure they are aligned to win for kids and deliver results. That’s why we coach and consult with new and veteran authorizers and schools across the country. Put our deep experience to work for you and we’ll help you grow and strengthen your capacity.
Let’s Advance Authorizing — Together
Because kids are worth it.
Be a Catalyst for Excellence
Authorizing has never simply been about oversight and compliance. It is about expanding opportunity, empowering people, and creating the conditions for excellence to thrive—often by challenging the givens and encouraging new and different approaches.
Imagine the possibilities if authorizers expanded their vision and used their authority to help develop a diverse and dynamic educational ecosystem that allows excellence to flourish. This requires seeing authorizing as more than regulatory compliance and accountability. Authorizers can influence the future of education by serving as change agents and catalysts for excellence. Together, let’s lead with courage and model the way.
Work with Experienced Professionals
At the National Charter Schools Institute, our team is made up of experienced professionals who have served as authorizers, school leaders, policy advisors, board members and so much more. We know the work because we’ve lived it—and we bring that real-world expertise to every partnership.
Our team is deeply committed to supporting authorizers in building strong systems, making sound decisions, and promoting excellence across their portfolio. Whether you're navigating complex renewals, refining your performance frameworks, training your board, or building internal capacity, we bring strategic insight, practical tools, and a hands-on approach to help you lead with clarity and confidence.
From large state-level authorizers to small district offices, we’ve supported teams across the country in advancing their mission and impact. When you work with our team, you’re not just getting technical assistance—you’re gaining trusted partners who are invested in your success and in the students and communities you serve.
Authorizer Resources
Thank you for all you do for us. We are in the trenches and it isn't always simple, straightforward, or easy - but worth it. You put emotional and intellectual labor into this above and beyond what you have to do to be successful with and for us.
Natalie Tucker
Chief of Staff, New Schools for Alabama
I have heard rave reviews from the Commission Members and Board Chairs. Everyone found the conversation enlightening and we’re begin to impact hearts and minds on the Commission.
Lana Ewing
Interim Executive Director, Maine Charter School Commission
The stuff you are doing and that I have tapped into from the Institute since Washington DC has been the best personal PD ever. I feel challenged, but also feel like I'm gaining insights and tools to make me a better educator, a better team member, and just a better informed and better person.
Darren Beck
Middle School Director, Canyon Grove Academy in Utah
Trusted by charter school authorizers, boards and schools across the nation.
CPS
CMU
Cleveland
Chicago International
Bay Mills
Bay Mills
Audubon
Alameda
Action Agua Dulce
Abney
UWM
SUNY
SUNY
South Carolina
School authority
Philiadelphia
Orange County
OPSRC
Old Mission
Oklahoma
Ohio
ODE
NEO
Muskegon
Mizzou
Missouri
Mississippi
Learn4life
Indiana
Hawaii
GVSU
Fordham
ESC
DC
Why Work With Us...
Experienced Leaders
We know education. Work with passionate professionals who have walked in your shoes—as authorizers, board members, school leaders, teachers, and even lawmakers.
One-Stop-Shop
We have solutions for all aspects of charter operations—from one-on-one coaching and consulting with seasoned experts, to professional development and training for your team, to robust tools and software systems.
Creative Solutions
Our services, tools and expertise are always growing and evolving. We pride ourselves on thinking outside of the box and challenging the givens, with new and creative solutions that fit your custom needs.
Reliable & Responsive
Our team is trusted nationally for being reliable, respected and dedicated. We are leaders who are committed to students and those who serve them. Kids! They are the WHY behind all we do.
